Trip from Pineville, LA to Lafayette, LA

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 35m

Distance

89.5 mi

144 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 21 min

4 AM

1h 29m ★

6 AM

1h 36m

8 AM

1h 50m

10 AM

1h 41m

12 PM

1h 40m

3 PM

1h 42m

5 PM

1h 50m

8 PM

1h 32m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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suburb city of Alexandria, located in Rapides Parish, Louisiana

Pineville, LA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 89.5-mile drive from Pineville, LA to Lafayette, LA is an easy 1-day trip, taking about 1 hour and 35 minutes. You'll primarily use Martin Luther King, Jr Highway, Veterans Memorial Expressway, and Northwest Evangeline Thruway. With an estimated fuel cost of $14, this route is budget-friendly. Since it's a relatively short drive with no planned stops, you can easily complete it in a single day. This journey stays within the Southeast region.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

44.8 miles from Pineville, LA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 47m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
East Shamrock Street	—	—
Melrose Street	—	—
Pineville Expressway	—	—
I 49 South	—	—
Martin Luther King	—	—
Veterans Memorial Expressway	—	—
Northwest Evangeline Thruway	—	—
Jefferson Boulevard	—	—

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: East Shamrock Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Pineville, LA and Lafayette, LA.

Start on Main Street

30 ft · 8 sec · Main Street

Turn left onto East Shamrock Street

0.3 mi · 37 sec · East Shamrock Street

Turn right onto Melrose Street

394 ft · 10 sec · Melrose Street

Continue on Melrose Street

0.3 mi · 35 sec · Melrose Street

Take the ramp slight left

0.1 mi · 17 sec

Merge slight left onto Pineville Expressway

0.7 mi · 1 min · Pineville Expressway

Keep slight left to continue on I 49 South, US 167 South: Opelousas

0.8 mi · 1 min · I 49 South, US 167 South: Opelousas

Merge slight left onto Martin Luther King, Jr Highway

76 mi · 1 hr 17 min · Martin Luther King, Jr Highway

Continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway

8.8 mi · 9 min · Veterans Memorial Expressway

Continue on Northwest Evangeline Thruway

1.9 mi · 3 min · Northwest Evangeline Thruway

Turn right onto Jefferson Boulevard

0.2 mi · 34 sec · Jefferson Boulevard

Continue on Rue Jefferson

0.3 mi · 52 sec · Rue Jefferson

Turn right onto Rue Vermilion Ouest

335 ft · 17 sec · Rue Vermilion Ouest

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Given the short duration of 1 hour and 35 minutes, you have a lot of flexibility with departure times. Leaving in the morning or mid-afternoon will allow you to avoid peak traffic. Plan for your fuel needs, as the estimated cost is $14 for the 89.5 miles, and there are no designated stops. Keep an eye on local traffic patterns, especially as you approach Lafayette, to ensure a smooth arrival. This route is best enjoyed without rushing, so take your time navigating the local roads.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.

The halfway point lands around 44.8 miles from Pineville, LA, or about 47m into the drive.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 20 miles or 21m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 44.8 miles or 47m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 21m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lafayette, LA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Pineville, LA so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Pineville, LA

This is one driving day of about 89.5 miles and 1h 35m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Pineville, LA.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Bunkie, LA

45 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Woodworth, LA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 20 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Bunkie, LA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 44.8 miles from Pineville, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Spoonbill Watering Hole & Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lafayette, Louisiana

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour $20 to $30 mile 89.5

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+13375340585

Visit website

Vestal Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lafayette, Louisiana

0.1 mi

Prejean's

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Lafayette, Louisiana

0.3 mi

Spoonbill Watering Hole & Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour $20 to $30 mile 89.5

Lafayette, Louisiana

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+13375340585

Visit website

Vestal Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $100 or ab mile 89.5

Lafayette, Louisiana

Hours: 4–9 pm

+13375340682

Visit website

Prejean's

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $20 to $30 mile 83.2

Lafayette, Louisiana

Hours: 10:30 am–9 pm

+13378963247

Visit website

Vermilionville Historic Village

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 89.5

Lafayette, Louisiana

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+13372334077

Visit website

Bon Temps Grill

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour $20 to $30 mile 89.5

Lafayette, Louisiana

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+13377068850

Visit website

T-Coon's Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20 mile 89.5

Lafayette, Louisiana

Hours: 6 am–2 pm

+13372330422

Visit website

Bangkok Thai Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $20 to $30 mile 89.5

Lafayette, Louisiana

Hours: 11 am–8:30 pm

+13379892009

Visit website

The Creek Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20 mile 12.8

Woodworth, Louisiana

Hours: 10:30 am–3 pm

+13184490674

Tesla Supercharger

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

1 mi from route ~2 min detour

Alexandria, Louisiana

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 89.5

Lafayette, Louisiana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+13374826858

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 83.2

Lafayette, Louisiana

Hours: Open 24 hours

Children's Museum of Acadiana

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route mile 89.5

Lafayette, Louisiana

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+13372328500

Visit website

Lafayette Science Museum

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route mile 89.5

Lafayette, Louisiana

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+13372915544

Visit website

The Lafayette Museum

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 89.5

Lafayette, Louisiana

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+13372342208

Visit website

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 89.5

Lafayette, Louisiana

Hours: 8 am–5 pm

+13372918448

Escape Room Lafayette

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~11 min detour

4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 89.5

Lafayette, Louisiana

Hours: 12–9 pm

+13373712883

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$13.52 one way

$27.03 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 31 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.21	$14.84	$29.68
premium	$4.56	$16.06	$32.13
diesel	$5.61	$19.76	$39.52

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$14

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$39–$64

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 31.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	26.8	$9.40	$4.30
Efficient EV	22.4	$7.83	$3.58
EV Truck/SUV	35.8	$12.53	$5.73

Gas CO2

31 kg

EV CO2

10 kg (68% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026

Origin

Pineville, LA

Late night in Pineville on Sunday

Local time

3:00 AM

CDT

Current temp

85°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lafayette, LA

Late night in Lafayette on Sunday

Local time

3:00 AM

CDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

24 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 35m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a turn-heavy local drive for most of this trip, with only about 11% on the highway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 76 miles on Martin Luther King, Jr Highway. This means you'll experience a variety of road types, transitioning between quicker sections and more engaged driving through local areas. The route's personality is less about high-speed cruising and more about navigating through communities.

Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.

14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Main road: East Shamrock Street.

How Hard Is This Drive?

1/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Pineville, LA to Lafayette, LA is easy. At 1h 35m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Pineville, LA to Lafayette, LA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

120 ft 37 ft

Total Climb

32 ft

Total Descent

115 ft

Highest Point

120 ft

Elevation Range

83 ft

About the Cities

Starting in Pineville, LA

Full guide →

Central is a region in Louisiana. This area is also known as Cenla or the Crossroads.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 35m. Total distance: 89.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Pineville, LA to Lafayette, LA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lafayette, LA before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore more options from Pineville, LA or browse trips ending in Lafayette, LA.

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Trip from Pineville, LA to Lafayette, LA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Nearby Places

Spoonbill Watering Hole & Restaurant

Spoonbill Watering Hole & Restaurant

Vestal Restaurant

Prejean's

Vermilionville Historic Village

Bon Temps Grill

T-Coon's Restaurant

Bangkok Thai Restaurant

The Creek Restaurant

Tesla Supercharger

ChargePoint Charging Station

Nissan Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

Electrify America Charging Station

Red E Charging Station

Children's Museum of Acadiana

Lafayette Science Museum

The Lafayette Museum

Girard Park

Alexandria Museum of Art

Moncus Park

Acadiana Park Nature Station

Escape Room Lafayette

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Pineville, LA

Lafayette, LA

Same local time

24 degrees cooler at arrival

1h 35m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Elevation Profile

About the Cities

Starting in Pineville, LA

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

Continue From Lafayette, LA

More from Pineville, LA

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